A Nigerian newspaper and Online version of the Vanguard, a daily publication in Nigeria covering Niger delta, general national news, politics, business, energy, sports, entertainment, fashion,lifestyle human interest stories, etc
No matter the outcome of the Europa League final tonight against Manchester United, 24 May will always have a special sentiment for Ajax and its fans.
On 24 May, 1995, Ajax managed to achieve the unthinkable; winning the Champions League with a team that was only 25 years old on average, beating Italian giants AC Milan 1-0 in the final.
Exactly 22 years later, Ajax have the opportunity once again to do something the club and its fans could not have possibly imagined. It is fitting, then, that the teams of then and now share so many connections beyond the iconic red and white jersey, as the Netherlands' most successful club will try to end its longest title drought in continental competition.
Edwin van der Sar, who was the goalkeeper in that famous Ajax side and won a Champions League with Manchester United to boot, is now the general director of the club from the capital. Former Arsenal player Marc Overmars, currently the director of football at Ajax, was another starter that night in Vienna, taking up duties on the left wing.
And with 18-year old Justin Kluivert in the side 22 years after his father Patrick became the youngest player to score a winner in a Champions League final, there might even be some historic on-pitch involvement, although the Dutch will be fearful of Manchester United's Daley Blind denying the club that his father Danny captained to the Amsterdammers' last European triumph.
The shadow of a team managed by another mutual acquaintance of both Manchester United and Ajax lingers over the final in Sweden – in 1995, Louis van Gaal was in charge of the Dutch club. Yet the current manager who has revitalized Ajax after a few stale years considers himself a disciple of the late Johan Cruyff.
Presidency has, Tuesday, said that the Nigerian economy, though slow, is emerging out of recession. It also said, for instance, growth has continued in agriculture and a notable positive turnaround has now been recorded in manufacturing and non-oil sectors, while a slowdown in negative growth rates is noticed in several more sectors.
A statement released by the Senior Special Assistant to the Acting President on Media & Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande said that the economy equally records an increasing reduction in sectoral negative growth.
Presidency gave the statement sequel to the report from Bloomberg, a private financial software, data, and media company that provides economic analysis of organizations or countries and presents reports for actions to be taken. The report claimed Nigeria's Gross Domestic Product, GDP shrank 0.5 percent in the first quarter from a year earlier, compared with a revised 1.7 percent contraction in the final three months of 2016.
The report maintained that Nigeria's economy has continued to slump and has contracted for a fifth consecutive quarter in the three months through March as oil output declined.
However, in the report released Tuesday evening by the office of the Acting President, it said "the 2017 Q1 GDP figures released earlier today depict an overall picture showing the economy is emerging slowly out of recession."
It said the statement by the Presidential Adviser on Economic Matters, Dr. Adeyemi Dipeolu, on GDP figures for the first quarter of 2017 (q1 2017), indicate that the economy made a nearly two percentage point improvement from the first quarter of 2017.
“The latest figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics show that the economy shrank by 0.52% in the first quarter of 2017 (Q1 2017).
Although the economy remains in recession this is the strongest performance in five quarters and shows a significant turnaround from the low of -2.34% reached in the third quarter of 2016 (Q3 2016).
"This is nearly two percentage point improvement and also reflects the fact that the number of sub-sectors that experienced negative growth has almost halved falling from 29 sub-sectors for the whole of 2016 to 16 sub-sectors in Q1 2017.
"Agricultural growth remained in positive territory albeit growing at a slower rate of about 3.4%, no doubt due to seasonal factors.
Growth in manufacturing on the other hand returned to positive territory after five quarters of negative growth. It grew by 1.36% in Q1 2017 after falling to a nadir of -7.0% in Q1 2016.
"The solid mineral sector continued to justify the priority given to it by the Federal Government with high double digit growth for metal ores and quarrying at 40.79% and 52.54% respectively.
Growth in the oil sector remained negative at -11.64% although there was an over six percentage point improvement in its fortunes from the previous quarter.
"More significantly, the non-oil sector which accounts for about 90% of GDP returned to positive growth although at a marginal level of 0.72% in Q1 2017. This is the first positive growth in the non-oil sector since the last quarter of 2015.
"Headline inflation fell for the third month in a row to 17.24%, with core inflation also declining quite rapidly.
"However, food inflation remains of concern as it continues to trend upwards. This is mainly due to rising transport costs and other structural impediments to the movement of foods in the domestic market. The trade balance remained positive reflecting import contraction and relatively higher export revenues which grew year-on-year by up to 80.5%.
The overall picture that the figures show is that the economy is emerging slowly out of recession.
"This outlook is reinforced by positive trends in other indicators such as improved oil prices and increasing production, rising foreign exchange reserves, increased capital spending by the Federal Government as well as improved perceptions reflected in various purchasing and sales managers indices. Barring major economic shocks, it should still be possible to restore growth this year as projected in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan.”
Antoine Griezmann says he is ready to leave Atletico Madrid in order to pursue a dream of winning trophies consistently.
Antoine Griezmann
The France international has long been linked with a move to Manchester United or Real Madrid but appeared to commit his future to Atletico last week when he light-heartedly stated that he would only leave to join NBA side the New York Knicks.
However, Griezmann caused a stir on Monday when he said that his chances of moving to Old Trafford this year were a "six out of 10" as talk began to build of a possible world-record offer from the Europa League finalists.
The 26-year-old has followed up those comments by saying that his ambitions could tempt him to leave Atletico in the next transfer window, although their own recruitment drive could yet convince him to stay.
The "fashionable" Premier League, the Bundesliga or even the top flights in China and the United States could be appealing, he said.
"We finished third in LaLiga. It was the club's objective but the players want more," he said at the release of his autobiography on Tuesday, as quoted by L'Equipe.
"I want to win trophies. I've come to a point where I play really well and score goals but it's not enough. That's it.
"To win trophies is what I'm going to look for this summer from the moment I decide my future.
"I reached a final and a semi-final of the Champions League with Atletico. We're close but we're missing something.
"I'll see what the club will do. It depends on transfers. I don't know if they understand but all the players, the media, my family, know that I like football to win trophies, to live strong emotions. I want to taste it.
"If I have to move today it will be no problem. It could be to England because that's fashionable, to Germany, China or the United States. I'm ready to go."
Griezmann registered 26 goals and 13 assists in all competitions for Diego Simeone's side last season.
Kano – The Kano State Branch of the Nigerian Fruit Sellers Association says its members only use carbide and not insecticides to quicken the ripening of fruits.Mangoes flood Zuba Fruit Market in Abuja on Friday (13/4/12). There Is Need to Preserve Our Seasonal Fruits. NAN Photo
The Chairman of the association, Malam Muhammad Umar, made this known on Tuesday in Kano.
Umar was reacting to reports alleging that fruit sellers in the state were using insecticides like balm, insect powder killer and other related chemical substances on unripe fruits to hasten ripening within a day.
"We are only using carbide in the ripening of fruits, and before we start using it we had to follow certain process which include the involvement of the Environmental and Occupational Health Unit, Kano State Ministry of Health," he explained.
Umar stated that the report of the public analysis conducted by the state Ministry of Health on the use of carbide in ripening fruits was approved to be safe.
However, the chairman said that certain recommended measures were being observed in the process.
He said that "the inner portion of the product should never be exposed.
"There should be no direct contact with the product and the carbide and lastly all rotten, damaged products should never be sold to consumers but should be disposed of.
"I assure you that we always do our best to ensure that members follow the recommendations by the state ministry of health," the chairman said.
According to him, apart from the approval by the state government in 2004, the association received additional approval from the Research Institute of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, on the safe use of the carbide.
He, therefore, called on members of the public to disregard the false reports, adding "harmful insecticides have never been used to ripen fruits and we will never use them''.
The former Head of the Environmental and Occupation Unit, and Sarkin Tsaftar Kano, Alhaji Ja'afaru Gwarzo, confirmed being the signatory on the approval letter issued to the association.
Gwarzo, who is also a Special Assistant to the state governor on 'Sanitation Vanguard', said that "after a thorough investigation on the safety of the carbide in ripening the fruits by an analysis in 2004, we were satisfied with the method but with certain conditions".
He enumerated the conditions as listed by the chairman of the fruits sellers.
Ariana Grande: Salman Abedi, a 22-year old was identified as the suicide bomber who killed 22 people, including children, in an attack on a crowded concert hall in Manchester.Victim of Manchester terrorolice counter-terrorism network and our security partners, is to continue to establish whether he was acting alone or working as part of a wider network," Manchester Police Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said.
Police raided houses in the northern English city and arrested a 23-year-old man after Monday evening's attack, the deadliest in Britain for 12 years.
Prime Minister Theresa May called it an act of "sickening cowardice" targeting "defenseless children and young people".
Islamic State, now being driven from territories in Syria and Iraq by Western-backed armed forces, claimed responsibility for what it called a revenge attack against "Crusaders", but there appeared to be contradictions in its account of the operation.
"All acts of terrorism are cowardly," May said in a statement outside her Downing Street office after a meeting with British security and intelligence chiefs.
"But this attack stands out for its appalling sickening cowardice, deliberately targeting innocent, defenseless children and young people who should have been enjoying one of the most memorable nights of their lives."
She said security services were working to see if a wider group was involved in the attack, which fell less than three weeks before a national election. The election campaign has been suspended for now as a mark of respect.
May spoke to U.S. President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron and several other foreign leaders on Tuesday about the attack, her spokesman said. She also visited the police headquarters and a children's hospital in Manchester.
ABUJA-Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, has strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, United Kingdom yesterday, Monday.Victim of Manchester terror
In a statement by his spokesman, Mr. Laolu Akande on Tuesday, the Acting President who described the attack as “despicable”, condoled with Prime Minister Theresa May, the government and the people of the United Kingdom.
The statement read thus: “On behalf of the people and Government of Nigeria, Prof Osinbajo expresses heartfelt condolences and solidarity with the government and people of the United Kingdom in this period of grief.
“Describing the attack as a dastardly act and heinous crime, Acting President Osinbajo assures Prime Minister Theresa May that the prayers and thoughts of Nigerians are with the British people as they mourn the victims, many of the them being young people.
“Acting President Osinbajo is confident that light of the civilised world will always prevail against the darkness of depravity, and he trusts that Britons and citizens of other nations across the world will continue to show resilience and courage in the wake of such terrorist crimes.
“He prays that God Almighty will comfort the bereaved families and also wishes a speedy recovery for the injured.”
By Ikechukwu Nnochiri ABUJA – Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting at Jabi, will tomorrow, rule on an application challenging the continued detention of the Chief Executive Officer of Capital Oil and Gas Ltd, Ifeanyi Ubah, by the Department of State Service, DSS.
Justice Halilu adjourned ruling on the application, on a day the security agency, alleged that Ubah committed an economic sabotage punishable by death.
It told the court that the detained oil mogul was illegally divered about 84 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (commonly called petrol), that was kept in his custody by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.
The DSS, in a counter-affidavit deposed by one of its operatives, Mr. Safwan Bello, told the court that the PMS Ubah diverted was valued at N11billion.
It stated that several effort by the NNPC to recover the PMS it kept in Ubah’s tank farm failed as the applicant had converted it to his personal use.
The agency maintained that Ubah’s action was capable of causing artificial scarcity of the product thus plunging the country not only into widespread scarcity of PMS but also in economic chaos.
According to the DSS, "The respondent (Ubah) was arrested on reasonable suspicion of his involvement in the commission of crime.
"The respondent refused to return the PMS to NNPC after repeated demands. The PMS is worth over N11bn. The action of the respondent is affecting the distribution of petroleum products to the populace.
"The action of the respondent is sabotage of NNPC's activities as it relates to distribution of petroleum products. If not for the urgent steps taken by the Federal Government, the action of the respondent would have plunged the country into widespread scarcity with its attendant effect on the economy”.
However, Ubah’s lawyer, Ifeoma Esom, has accused the DSS of surreptitiously securing an order to detain her client.
Esom alleged that the agency suppressed material facts when on May 10, it persuaded the court to allow it to hold Ubah in its custody for 14 days.
In an application anchored on section 298(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, Ubah, told the court that “Capital Oil and Gas Ltd (COG) of which the respondent is the CEO has always been one of NNPC’s largest Throughput providers and this is evidenced by Throughput agreements entered into between NNPC subsidiaries and COG over the years.
“These Throughput agreements, in accordance with the norms and practice in the industry worldwide, allow conversion and diversion of IT products by the ‘Operator’ so long as the Operator is prepared to re-deliver the products (in terms of the current contract) within 7 days of demand by the products owner or to pay a penalty for non re-delivery.
“The penalty to re-deliver is expressly stated by the Contract to be a mere breach of contract remediable by the payment of penalty to the owner. The penalty is comprised of the cost of delivery of the products to the Operator’s tank farm with interest at Nibor+1.
“There can therefore be no issue of crime in conversion or diversion of products under a throughput contract (regardless of the ordinary connotations of those words).”
She revealed that the DSS earlier arrested Ubah at his house in Lagos on March 24 and kept him in its custody until April 14 when he was temporarily and conditionally released after he had been coerced into making payment of N2billion and executing various documents in favour of NNPC and AMCON.
Esom told the court that when Ubah returnes to his home in Lagos, in fear for his life and liberty should he renew his claims that he is not indebted to either NNPC Retail Ltd or AMCON as he had maintained before his incarceration, instructed his counsel to file an application for the enforcement of his fundamental rights.
“Notwithstanding the pendency of the suit and the service of the originating processes, the SSS again invited the Respondent to report to its offices in respect of the same allegations made by the NNPC and AMCON which is the subject matter of the suit.
“On the 5th of May 2017, the SSS arrested the respondent in Lagos and moved him to their Abuja office”.
Mr Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, has urged Nigerians to ignore the media reports on Coup plot, saying it should not be stretched beyond what the military authorities had said.
Adesina stated this at a media chat with State House correspondents to mark two years of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration on Tuesday in Abuja.
According to him, what the Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Tukur Burutai, said about the issue was a "routine warning that goes to military officers.''
The presidential aide addressed the correspondents alongside the Senior Special Assistants to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu and Mr Laolu Akande (Office of the Vice-President).
Adesina said: "The Army has spoken and let us take that position. What the Chief of Army Staff said was a routine warning that goes to military officers, don't hobnob with politicians and the army has explained the position.
"Let's take that position and not stretch it beyond what the military has said because they are the ones that can give us the definitive position and they have spoken on it.''
The presidential spokesman also debunked the assertion that the ruling party had failed in fulfilling its political obligations and promises to the electorate in view of the reported hardships being experienced by a cross section of Nigerians.
He maintained that it was unfair to assess the performance of the Buhari's administration within its first two years.
"People can always express their opinions, there is liberty on that but you don't have a scientific survey that has given you the percentage of people that believed that the APC has failed.
"The second point is that, when a government via a party is voted into office, it is voted for a four year term under our own democratic arrangement.
"When you have spent two years which is like a midterm, the first half of a game, you don't then determined that it has succeeded or it has failed.
"No. You can be accused of being atomistic using a small part to determine the whole. You can't write the report card of this administration when it is just hitting the half way mark, that will not be fair.
"This administration will take Nigeria far beyond how it met it. So if anybody says APC has failed just tell them is too early in the day because is a four year-term and this is just two years. You don't reach definitive conclusions in two years.''
Malam Garba Shehu, who spoke on the Human Rights records of the Buhari's administration, said the records were impeccable.
"The Human rights records of this administration are impeccable, there are unimpeachable. I think we should avoid speaking in general terms.
"The thing to do is to pin point specific cases to buttress assertions that people make and then we can tackle them.
"As we speak to you now, we are not aware that the administration of Muhammadu Buhari is in breach of the constitution of Nigeria with regards to the protection of the rights of Nigerians.
"Journalists in this country ought to bear testimony on this, there is no single journalist that has been expelled from his duty because he has reported or failed to report, there is no single journalist who is in government detention because they have expressed some views that the government does not like.''
According to Shehu, the Buhari's administration is complying with the decision of the courts of the land.
"I assure that if anybody tries to do otherwise the president will not allow him to get away with it.''
Laolu Akande, who spoke on alleged weak prosecution of corruption cases across the country, said: "The truth of the matter is that our criminal justice system does need a profound and deep reform.
"The important thing is that this government is working on it. As a matter of fact now, the Acting President has put together a national coordination prosecution team for all the prosecution trying to see how in the medium term we can bring some progress.
"But also working on judicial sector reforms on the long term on criminal justice system to strengthen both the investigation and prosecution at the courts.
"And I know it is going to take a while for us to address it," he said.
On food security, Akande revealed that the government had recorded tangible achievements in the nation's agricultural sector.
According to him, the committee on food crisis is still working, while the government has reduced importation of food items especially rice.
He disclosed that about 40,000 farmers in Kebbi state had become millionaires due to government favourable agricultural policies.
African Union Directors-General of Customs have been urged to resolve to implement Free Trade Area agreement (CFTA), to boost trade on the continent.
Sen. Hope Uzodimma, Chairman Senate Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff, made the call when he spoke to newsmen at the ongoing first extra-ordinary meeting of African Union Sub-committee of Directors General in Abuja on Tuesday.
He said the implementation of CFTA would facilitate trade in Africa, adding that this can only happen if the CFTA was implemented with utmost transparency.
"I wish to encourage you to adopt a strong resolution, urging African heads of states and governments to implement CFTA which in Jan. 2012 they agreed to establish in 2017.
`This agreement was inspired by the initiative of an African plan for boosting Intra-Africa Trade (BIATA).
" The focus of the leaders at the 2012 summit was to boost intra-Africa trade.
"This is to be done by increasing productive capacity, trade related infrastructure, trade finance, trade information and factor market integration,'' Uzodimma said.
According to him, lack of automation and marginal use of information technology was yet a major bane of trade facilitation in Africa.
He said that the waste of time and money at customs clearing point does not facilitate trade.
According to him, there is need for the application of high sense of patriotism, diligence and transparency to facilitate trade within the AU.
"As you know, there are allegations that some AU members countries conspire with countries outside the region to illegally adopt products from foreign countries as their own products.
"Thereafter, they stamp and ship from their port of origin to AU countries as though such goods were made in their countries, this unwholesome practice does not facilitate intra-Africa trade.
"You must therefore ensure that it is stamped out completely if the CFTA agreement is to have the desired impact'', he added.
Abuja – Mr Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, has urged Nigerians to ignore the media reports on Coup plot, saying it should not be stretched beyond what the military authorities had said. Femi Adesina Adesina stated this at a media chat with State House correspondents to mark two years of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration on Tuesday in Abuja.
According to him, what the Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Tukur Burutai, said about the issue was a "routine warning that goes to military officers.''
The presidential aide addressed the correspondents alongside the Senior Special Assistants to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu and Mr Laolu Akande (Office of the Vice-President).
Adesina said: "The Army has spoken and let us take that position. What the Chief of Army Staff said was a routine warning that goes to military officers, don't hobnob with politicians and the army has explained the position.
"Let's take that position and not stretch it beyond what the military has said because they are the ones that can give us the definitive position and they have spoken on it.''
The presidential spokesman also debunked the assertion that the ruling party had failed in fulfilling its political obligations and promises to the electorate in view of the reported hardships being experienced by a cross section of Nigerians.
He maintained that it was unfair to assess the performance of the Buhari's administration within its first two years.
"People can always express their opinions, there is liberty on that but you don't have a scientific survey that has given you the percentage of people that believed that the APC has failed.
"The second point is that, when a government via a party is voted into office, it is voted for a four year term under our own democratic arrangement.
"When you have spent two years which is like a midterm, the first half of a game, you don't then determined that it has succeeded or it has failed.
"No. You can be accused of being atomistic using a small part to determine the whole. You can't write the report card of this administration when it is just hitting the half way mark, that will not be fair.
"This administration will take Nigeria far beyond how it met it. So if anybody says APC has failed just tell them is too early in the day because is a four year-term and this is just two years. You don't reach definitive conclusions in two years.''
Malam Garba Shehu, who spoke on the Human Rights records of the Buhari's administration, said the records were impeccable.
"The Human rights records of this administration are impeccable, there are unimpeachable. I think we should avoid speaking in general terms.
"The thing to do is to pin point specific cases to buttress assertions that people make and then we can tackle them.
"As we speak to you now, we are not aware that the administration of Muhammadu Buhari is in breach of the constitution of Nigeria with regards to the protection of the rights of Nigerians.
"Journalists in this country ought to bear testimony on this, there is no single journalist that has been expelled from his duty because he has reported or failed to report, there is no single journalist who is in government detention because they have expressed some views that the government does not like.''
According to Shehu, the Buhari's administration is complying with the decision of the courts of the land.
"I assure that if anybody tries to do otherwise the president will not allow him to get away with it.''
Laolu Akande, who spoke on alleged weak prosecution of corruption cases across the country, said: "The truth of the matter is that our criminal justice system does need a profound and deep reform.
"The important thing is that this government is working on it. As a matter of fact now, the Acting President has put together a national coordination prosecution team for all the prosecution trying to see how in the medium term we can bring some progress.
"But also working on judicial sector reforms on the long term on criminal justice system to strengthen both the investigation and prosecution at the courts.
"And I know it is going to take a while for us to address it," he said.
On food security, Akande revealed that the government had recorded tangible achievements in the nation's agricultural sector.
According to him, the committee on food crisis is still working, while the government has reduced importation of food items especially rice.
He disclosed that about 40,000 farmers in Kebbi state had become millionaires due to government favourable agricultural policies.
The senate president in the seventh senate, Sen. David Mark, has weighed the developmental achievements in his state and Rivers and compares both using youths empowerment and other socio-economic achievements as a template.
Sen. Mark who went for the commissioning of the Rivers states newly constructed road in his address compared his state and Rivers in terms of developmental blueprints achieved.
Gov. Ortom empowering people with Wheel Barrows
According to him, ” This is not my first visit to commission projects in Rivers state, I was here last year to commission one of the roads. “I noticed the tremendous improvement in Rivers sate and the democratic process within.
“Most people are here commissioning roads, commissioning projects plus other developments achieved, but in my home state ‘Benue’ they gave out Wheel barrows to empower people. “So you can compare and contrast,” he finally said.
A trending video on social media claims more than five Nigerian policemen allegedly brutalised some motorcyclists in Anambra over unidentified offences.
In the video, the policemen are seen brutally beating the motorcyclists, and blood rushing out of one of them. Whats your take on the video?
Police allegedly brutalising motocyclists in AnambraPolice allegedly brutalising motocyclists in AnambraPolice allegedly brutalising motocyclists in AnambraPolice allegedly brutalising motocyclists in Anambra
The Europa League final between Manchester United and Ajax will not be the same following the deadly terror attack in Manchester, the Dutch club’s coach Peter Bosz said on Tuesday.
“What happened in Manchester is something that we all feel at Ajax,” Bosz told his pre-match press conference at Stockholm’s Friends Arena.
“On behalf of the players and the staff, we at Ajax would like to express sympathy with the victims who unfortunately fell yesterday.
“The feeling that prevails is that the final doesn’t have the glow it should have.
“Tomorrow evening should be a football feast, but because of events in Manchester, we’re all affected, particularly as we’re playing against Manchester. It’s horrible. My heartfelt sympathies.”
Twenty-two people were killed and 59 injured in a suicide bomb attack that targeted a concert by American pop star Ariana Grande at Manchester Arena on Monday.
Grande, who was unhurt in the attack, recently performed in Amsterdam and several of the Ajax players’ wives and children attended the concert.
“It’s devastating,” said midfielder Lasse Schone.
“Ariana Grande performed in Amsterdam two weeks ago. My wife and my child were there. It’s so close. It’s terrible, it’s horrible.
“Our sympathies go out to the victims’ friends and families. It takes away some of the sparkle of what will happen tomorrow.”
By Ola Ajayi, Ibadan A two-time senator at the National Assembly, Iyiola Omisore and some archaeologists have called on leaders in the country to resuscitate museums by proper and regular funding to make them attraction centres for indigenous and foreign tourists.
They made the call Tuesday during the international museum day at the Museum of National Unity, Ibadan.
Omisore who presented a keynote address at the event suggested that branding and increased social media presence; infusion of technology into display of artefacts, photographs and documents could attract tourists to museums across the country.
Other factors, he feels, could save the dying museums, include introduction of more flexible hours, multiple exhibition facilities; creation of inter school competitions in the museum to arouse the curiosity and research among youths would make museum enjoy good patronage.
While presenting the guest lecture entitled, ” Museums and Contested histories-Saying the Unspeakable in Museums, Dr Ogunfolakan Adisa from the Natural Museum, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife underscored the importance of museums in national development.
According to him, museum plays pivotal role in national development. For instance, the artefacts of Civil War, Kiriji War involving Ijesa and Ibadan which are in our museum will constantly remind us that war is not good and that we should toe the path of peace.
He spoeaking further he said “When I went to Igboland, I saw the technology prowess of Igbo, some war equipment they manufactured during the Civil War, if not for museum which have all these artefacts, how do we know about African technology?”
He lamented that museums across the country are not well funded.
“We have to help these people. In developed world, you see people coming out to help. Our museums in Nigeria are dying. I call on well-meaning Nigerians to come to the aid of museums so that they can perform well,” he said.
The Director General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Mallam Yusuf Abdallah Usman who was represented by the Deputy Director and Curator, National Museum of Unity, Ibadan, Elder Amos Olorunnipa, said, “museums as educational resource centres are veritable institutions for the promotion of creativity, innovation and inventiveness through their exhibitions and programmes”.
He called on institutions that have existed for 50 years to or more to set up museums to document their histories and on schools to make visits to the museum a compulsory part of their teaching process.
This, he added would greatly assist the misunderstanding of the past, an appreciation of the preset and the planning of a better future.
Awards were given to Senator Iyiola Omisore, Mr. Toye Arulogun, Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr Newton Jibunoh and Dr Segun Opadeji, Senior Lecturer, Archaeology and Anthropology Department, University of Ibadan.
Governor of the State of Osun, Rauf Aregbesola and leader of the House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila have written off the present structure of the Nigeria’s Presidential System of Government. Rauf Aregbesola
While Aregbesola clamoured for a Parliamentary system as the only viable way to solve the Nigeria problem, Gbajabiamila called for the remodification of the current system to fit into the local system.
The duo spoke on Tuesday at a special sitting of the Osun House of Assembly to commemorate the Governor’s 60th birthday anniversary where he was honoured with ‘Life Membership of the House’ and a lecture series was held in his honour.
According to the governor, the present system is not only cumbersome, “it is unsuitable for our own clime”.
According to him, Parliamentary system of government is the best system of government over and above “the current expensive and authoritarian Presidential System”.
“Nothing can be more incongruous than operating Presidential System in a multi-ethnic, multi-religious country like Nigeria.
“Anything short of true federalism is an aberration, but parliamentary system is the best way we can rule our country without hassles.
“While the current Presidential System tends towards authoritarianism, Parliamentary system gives everybody voice and make governance easier”, he said.
In his lecture, titled ‘Suitability of Presidential System of Government In A Multi-ethnic Democracy’, Gbajabiamila said, the current system is cumbersome as no one could specifically say which kind of the system is being operated in the country.
“Nigeria at one time or the other practiced all the system of Government – Presidential, Parliamentary and Unitary- but it is disheartening that we are still pondering on which system is suitable for us.
According to him, in Federal System of government , most powers are concentrated at the centre and this cannot be suitable in a multi ethnic society like Nigeria where there are issues of marginalisation, resource control among others.
Gbajabiamila, said there are too many responsibilities at the federal level, saying, this was the major reason why dividends of democracy hardly get to the grassroot.
“In democracy, power belongs to the people, but in Nigeria’s democracy, power has been taking away from the people leading to distrust, inter-ethnicity and quest for secession”, Gbajabiamila stressed.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Honourable Najeem Salaam, while presenting the membership certificate to governor, said the honour was conferred on the governor based on his developmental strides in the state.
He said it was also provided opportunity to widen the scope of discourse on issues bordering on development.
Governor of the State of Osun, Rauf Aregbesola and leader of the House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila have written off the present structure of the Nigeria’s Presidential System of Government.
While Aregbesola clamoured for a Parliamentary system as the only viable way to solve the Nigeria problem, Gbajabiamila called for the remodification of the current system to fit into the local system.
The duo spoke on Tuesday at a special sitting of the Osun House of Assembly to commemorate the Governor’s 60th birthday anniversary where he was honoured with ‘Life Membership of the House’ and a lecture series was held in his honour.
According to the governor, the present system is not only cumbersome, “it is unsuitable for our own clime”.
According to him, Parliamentary system of government is the best system of government over and above “the current expensive and authoritarian Presidential System”.
“Nothing can be more incongruous than operating Presidential System in a multi-ethnic, multi-religious country like Nigeria.
“Anything short of true federalism is an aberration, but parliamentary system is the best way we can rule our country without hassles.
“While the current Presidential System tends towards authoritarianism, Parliamentary system gives everybody voice and make governance easier”, he said.
In his lecture, titled ‘Suitability of Presidential System of Government In A Multi-ethnic Democracy’, Gbajabiamila said, the current system is cumbersome as no one could specifically say which kind of the system is being operated in the country.
“Nigeria at one time or the other practiced all the system of Government – Presidential, Parliamentary and Unitary- but it is disheartening that we are still pondering on which system is suitable for us.
According to him, in Federal System of government , most powers are concentrated at the centre and this cannot be suitable in a multi ethnic society like Nigeria where there are issues of marginalisation, resource control among others.
Gbajabiamila, said there are too many responsibilities at the federal level, saying, this was the major reason why dividends of democracy hardly get to the grassroot.
“In democracy, power belongs to the people, but in Nigeria’s democracy, power has been taking away from the people leading to distrust, inter-ethnicity and quest for secession”, Gbajabiamila stressed.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Honourable Najeem Salaam, while presenting the membership certificate to governor, said the honour was conferred on the governor based on his developmental strides in the state.
He said it was also provided opportunity to widen the scope of discourse on issues bordering on development.
Some residents in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Tuesday expressed divergent views on why they snoop their partners phones, emails and text messages.
Mrs Elizabeth Joseph, a civil servant told newsmen that though her husband uses a code to lock his phone, she has been able to decode it and snoop through his phone whenever she suspects him of hiding anything from her.
" He (the husband) is not aware that I have the code to his phone, so he leaves it with me to go and watch football with his friends, which gives me ample time to go through it and even his mails, text messages and pictures to know what he is up to.''
Also, Miss Bola Samuel, a banker, said snooping through her partner's phone from time to time keeps her abreast of his activities, "especially his `kuru-kere' moves."
"I don't see anything wrong with going through my partner's phone, which some people regard as stalking. I rather see it as protecting my interest to know if the relationship will yield fruit or I am wasting my time.''
According to her, she also gets an inkling of her partner's plan for their relationship through his text messages with his family members and friends , as well as eavesdropping on his conversation with others.
Similarly, Mr Emmanuel Chibuzor, a business man said he sees nothing wrong in snooping his partner's phone because ,"I bought the phone and I have every right to know who she communicates with and the nature of such conversation.
" I don't see anything wrong in going through my partner's phone without her consent because I got the phone for her, moreover we are both in a relationship, so we don't need to hide anything from each other,'' he said.
However, Mrs Ronke Ibrahim said she regretted going through her husband's phone without his knowledge because it affected their relationship.
" I was inquisitive and went through his phone without his consent and I saw some pornography videos and pictures in it, I immediately felt insecure. I also felt that I was not satisfying him sexually; I became scared that the relationship might end soon.''
On his own part, Mr Funom Adamu, stressed the need for couples to share vital information with each other, which he said would build mutual trust, respect and love in the home.
" Trust is an essential part of any relationship and snooping through the phone of a partner is one of the worst things you can do because it opens doors for misunderstanding, disappointment and pains.
"My wife has access to my phone, mail, ATM pin and other personal things because I have nothing to hide from her; moreover, this life is too short. What if something happens to me and she needs those things?
" Some people are professional cheats, but you will never see anything linking them or exposing their extramarital affairs on their phones, mail or other personal belongings,'' he said.
Adamu, said scooping on each other's phone was not necessary as it could lead to a breach of trust, become an addiction, which would subsequently affects the relationship.
Meanwhile, a relationship expert said snooping another person's phone without permission gives room for suspicion, mistrust and hurt for both partners, as well as contributes immensely to broken homes, relationship and marriages.
Mrs Precious Yusuf, said people who go through the phones or other personal items of their partners without their knowledge shows they lack trust, are possessive and feel vulnerable in their relationships.
" Snooping other peoples personal items without their consent shows lack of trust, understanding and respect for the person , which in most cases becomes a habit and leads to misunderstanding or an end of the relationship.''
Yusuf attributed insecurity, suspicious of cheating and hiding relevant information that might affect the relationship as reasons why people secretly go through the phones and other personal belongings of their partners.
" It is better to confront your partner and clear the air, rather than become suspicious to the extent of stalking the person all because you suspect the person is cheating or hiding something from you,'' Yusuf said.
Mr Ibrahim Magu, the Acting Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFFC), on Tuesday vowed to fight corruption with the last drop of his blood.
Addressing a massive anti-corruption rally in Abuja, Magu reaffirmed the determination of the commission to "trace and recover all ill-gotten wealth and bring the perpetrators to book''.
He said: "I stand before you today and make a solemn pledge never to give up the fight. Those who dread to be punished for their corrupt deeds should take notice that the EFCC is watching.
"It is time to weep for those who believe they can perpetually hold down Nigeria as a cow and milk her to death.
"It is time to weep for supposed men and women of honour who pose as anti-corruption fighters but when they think we are not looking, they plot and fund the collapse of the anti-corruption war.
"It is time to weep for those who want to be perpetually rich at the expense of our poor masses. Victory is ours because the days of impunity are gone.''
Newsmen report that the rally was part of a nationwide anti-corruption walk staged by the EFCC to spur the masses into joining the anti-graft war.
It was planned to coincide with the second anniversary of President Muhammadu Buhari's administration on May 29.
The walk, which began at the commission's Head Office in Wuse 2, at 8.45 a.m., witnessed a massive turnout of officials and other stakeholders.
They included representatives of the Inspector-General of Police, the Federal Road Safety Corps, the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, civil society organisations and student unions.
The exercise took the participants from Wuse 2 through Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Shehu Shagari Way and front of the National Assembly Complex to the Federal Secretariat.
Dressed in branded red and white T-shirts, they carried banners and placards with different messages including "Enough of siddon look, join the crusade against corruption".
Magu said he was touched by the massive turnout, which he described as an eloquent testimony that Nigerians are fully in support of the fight against corruption.
He said huge gains had been recorded in the anti-graft war of the Buhari administration in the last two years as evident in the massive recovery and forfeiture of stolen assets.
He said: "The reign of impunity in the conduct of public affairs has been tamed to a considerable extent.
"By taking on the high and mighty in all sectors, the EFCC has proven that there are no sacred cows in the fight against corruption.
"All of these have been made possible by a new political climate in Nigeria under President Buhari, who has demonstrated the will to fight corruption by not interfering with the operations of the anti-graft agencies.''
Magu took a swipe at the corrupt elite who he said continued plotting to derail the anti-corruption programme of the current administration without remorse.
Their aim, he emphasised, is to return the country to the dark days when corruption and impunity reigned supreme.
" While many Nigerians are calling for stiffer punishment for the corrupt, the patrons of corruption now tell us that it does not pay to punish the corrupt!
"While we are sweating in the sun to express our collective hatred for corruption, they are busy in the air conditioned mansions plotting how to continue the looting.''
The EFCC acting chairman, who said the country could not afford to let them succeed, called on all Nigerians to rise up against corruption.
He noted that the fight required a consensus of all Nigerians to be won, adding that the anti-graft agencies could not do it alone.
Expressing similar sentiment, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Ayuba Wabba, urged Nigerians to take up the fight against corruption.
Wabba said: "The corruption elite are saying that Nigeria is corrupt; we that are on the ground are also saying that the system is corrupt.
"The fact remains that there is systemic corruption in Nigeria, therefore, we Nigerian citizens must be ready at all cost to make sacrifice to make Nigeria a better place.''
He assured the EFCC of the support of Nigerian workers and citizens on the fight against corruption.
Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue has advised parents to closely monitor the activities of children hooked on the internet.
"There are many negative posts on the cyberspace and they spur negative actions; parents must be more observant and be determined to protect their children," Ortom said on Tuesday in Makurdi.
Ortom, who gave the advice during an interactive session with Benue women, said that society was driven by the kind of information available to it.
"Information is power; it can make or mar a any society or its administration. Parents must always be on the watch," he said.
The governor suggested more interaction between parents and children, and advised parents to make it a duty to counsel the youths against negative pages.
He said that most crises and threats of insecurity had often resulted from information gathered from the cyberspace, and particularly noted that such information usually "move with the speed of light".
The governor commended the women for promoting growth in the agriculture, education, health and other sectors, and called for more efforts toward a better Benue.
In her remarks, the Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Ladi Ajene-Ishegbe, said that the session was a platform for women to interact with government for first-hand information on government activities.
She urged women to monitor children against social vices and violence, noting that women were usually the worst victims of crises.
Also speaking, Mrs. Grace Okochi, President, Benue chapter of the National Council for Women Societies, urged women to vie for more elective positions so as to promote their interests.
"We have only seven women seeking local government elective positions in the 23 councils. The elections are coming up on June 3, so we want more women to come out," she said.
Prof. Leticia Nyitse of the Benue State University, in her speech, appealed for the promotion of girl-child education and the reduction of school fees for female students.
She urged the government to look into the training and retraining of teachers toward a better education system, and called for the employment of more qualified women to teach.
The Chairman, Sub-Committee of Directors-General of African Customs, Mr Happias Kuzvinzwa, says it is important to develop the capacity of African customs administrations to implement the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) on the continent.
Kuzvinzwa, who is also the Commissioner General, Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, said this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday.
He said given the importance of TFA to the development of African trade, it was important to upscale the capacity of custom officials involved in the implementation of the agreement in the region.
He, however, said that enormous resources were required to improve the capacity of the officials in the various customs formations in the region.
"There are so many trade facilitation initiatives that have been initiated by various customs administrations in Africa to facilitate trade but there is need to train all customs officials in all aspects of trade facilitation that a country may adopt.
" Since the challenges we face differ, we need to train them to understand the process."
He said that there were recommended and adopted best practices that the customs administrations could use to implement the agreement in the region.
He also told NAN that the meeting of the African heads of customs would also highlight some of the challenges inherent in the implementation of TFA and come up with the best approach on how to surmount the envisaged problems.
According to him, development and enhancement of capacity is mandatory in the area of automation of transit trade and automation of electronic cargo checking.
He said this was critical in promoting ease of doing business in the trade facilitation area.
Kuzvinzwa also said that the challenge of insecurity was also critical to the implementation of TFA, adding that the collaborative effort of all security agencies would help to mitigate insecurity in the region.
This, he said, could be archived through sharing of intelligence information among the security officials in the region.
KANO- The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III Tuesday called on the 19 northern Governor to invest on the small Scale Industireies to better the lot of ordinarily citizens across the region.
The Sultan of Sokoto
Sultan Abubakar who spoke in Kano during the second edition of Kano Economic Summit held at the Corronation Hall of Kano Government House said that direct investment on SME’s will create job that would ginger lasting peace in the region.
Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III said, “our people are not greedy like our elite who would want to have all, support the common man with small business to enable them have something to fall back on, and when you do this they would be happy,and we would have peace and decent society”.
Sultan who disclosed that Kano was his home, commended the development stride of Governor Ganduje in all spheres of human endeavours , adding that “I am here to strengthen him, and encourage him to do more”
Sa’ad Abubakar revealed that “we as traditional rulers are supposed to be seen not heard, and we are working underground to continue to help our political leaders, and we believe in their ability to create jobs , developed our economy and moved the country forward.
Abubakar III who picked hole on fast eroding general and societal norms said that “we have our culture and tradition, and we must strive at all time not to deviate because that was what made us different from others”.
Earlier in a speech, the emir of Kano underscored the need to invest in agriculture, adding that focus on the sector would surely change our economic fortune as a people and as a nation for good.
Sanusi II said that “I have repeatedly made it clear that economics was not rocket science , and Nation states that have developed accorded much emphasis on value creation, and these are often achievable through agriculture produce because it takes little to double or tripple the outcome .
The emir of Kano further said that ” its about giving farmers right education, how to do the right things , working with them, and giving them access to market”.
“We have worked with farmers in Kano, and Kaduna states, we have seen the borrower anchor programme in agriculture, its therefore easier to double our investment in the agricultural sector to get it right.”
Sanusi II said “we want to see the return of groundnut pyramid, but we don’t want to see Kano exporting groundnut, we want to see them in the oil mills where it would add value on the local economy.
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